Favorite Western Hunting Rifle Barrel Length

[BrentM]

No brake and no can, 24-26 is nice. I have had several 28's and they aren't bad. Since I run a can I like 18-20, puts my overall at 24-26. It's a decent blend for western hunting.

 

[camcraig]

Curious what everyone likes! Let's call this BEFORE any attachments such as a suppressor or brake.

Best length is 28" IMHO.

 

[tomsd]

I think a 20" is good for the dark timber and a true mountain rifle - long barrels are difficult for me in the timber.
In the western plains I think 26" is were it's at if the cartridge chosen can utilize it.
So I voted middle of the road at 23-24"

Agree - Thick Woods or Wide Open makes a big difference as to what to carry. Or on a horse as well.

 

[wilkup]

24" plus brake for me as my all around option. I've never cared for the ultra long pipes in a hunting rifle required to really get the most out of those super magnums. As a beanfield shooter, I guess it wouldn't matter as much, but I prefer to carry in hand and 10# starts to get heavy towards the end of the day lol

 

[Hondo1]

I've killed as much with a 16" as I have a 26". I hunt Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. I never felt like I needed to pass on a shot due to the length of my barrel. Overall if I could only have one rifle it would probably be a 20" .300wsm.

 

[seattleman1969]

24"

 

[OldElkHunter1961]

The requirement for barrel length is cartridge (powder volume) dependant in my experience.
.308 case family 20-22"
.30-06 case family 24"
.375 case family 26"
Obviously, there are exceptions. The 350 Remington Magnum is originally based on the traditional belted case, but as a dense cover carbine it appropriately wears an 18.5" barrel on the Remington 600M and in that example the case contains ~55 gr of powder to toss a 250 gr cigar but of a bullet. My nickles worth. Enjoy the hunt and process leading to it.

 

[HANGum HIGH]

Think it depends on the terrain you hunt. I tend to hunt more open areas with my rifle where I live going after deer and antelope. I primarily hunt elk with a bow. So I have 26" on the rifle I just built. If it was more thick where I hunted, I would go shorter.

 

[Fester Bestertester]

26 inches

 

[Lenny Foffa]

Weatherby Ultalight in 270 Win Thin 24 inch Bbl. Weatherby Mark V in 270 Weatherby Mag 26inch #2 bbl.

 

[skookum]

A couple years ago I would have said 26" but after carrying around a 23" 6.5 PRC and also messing around with my dad's 20" 6.5 PRC I believe I am willing to give up a small amount of speed for overall portability. My dad's rifle takes me back to my days as a kid packing a BB gun.

 

[tonechaser88]

I had a 20" 300 wsm that spit 212eldx at 2750 FPS. I don't have the info right in front of me but I want to say that gun was effective for elk past 600 yards. I think a wsm or saum in that 19-21" range is hard to beat for a legitimate "do-all" cartridge for "most" scenarios western big game. If I was a long action guy I'd stick to 22-24". I just don't think your giving up much compared to a 26" and the guys that hunt out west with a more compact gun know exactly what I mean.

 

[ingers007]

26" is it.

 

[GeorgeB52]

24 to 26 for me.
If you worry about being over your head ,why are you using a sling?